### 45.4 Specifying output file paths and names

For the output file name, you can modify any or all of the path, name, and extension. By default, the filter alters only the file extension. For RTF output, the extension is normally .rtf. For multi-step processing, it is .dcl for the first step and .rtf for the last step. The target file is written to the same directory as the source file, usually the current directory. Any intermediate files (typically binary DCL files, .dcb) are written to the current directory, and are automatically deleted after conversion is complete.

The output option -o name can specify a path without a file name, a file name with or without a path, or an extension without a file name. Each of these works differently:

- Path without file name causes the output file to be written with the same name but to a different directory.
- File name with or without path alters the file name for the output file. If you do not specify a path, the original file path (as modified by any earlier path-related -o option) is used.
- Extension without file name gives the output file the extension specified instead of the original extension. (In some cases, the new extension is added on instead of replacing the previous one; this happens if the previous extension was not the one used to indicate the input format, and if the file naming rules for the system permit multiple extensions.)

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Parent Topic: 45. Converting via DCL

Sibling Topics:

45.1 How the DCL filter works

45.2 Using the DCL filter

45.3 DCL command-line syntax

45.5 About DCL technology